Mark Cross - Alps 2 Ocean Ultra 322km endurance race

I’m asking you to donate to two great causes, Lifeline Aotearoa and Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust. In return I’ll be running 322km from Mt Cook to Oamaru in the Alps 2 Ocean Ultra endurance race. 6 stages over 7 days, longest stage is 89km and shortest is 29km. I’ll be carrying everything needed for the week (food etc) in a backpack except a tent.

Why have I chosen these two organisations? Both have an important personal connection for me. The funds raised will be split between them 50/50.

Lifeline Aotearoa – my wife Angela is a dedicated volunteer for Lifeline so I’ve heard first hand the amazing work they do with no Government funding. Lifeline Aotearoa has been helping New Zealanders in crisis for over 50 years. They receive over 10,000 calls per month from people of all ages and ethnicities who are struggling with a wide range of issues including relationship and work problems, mental health, grief, abuse, bullying and loneliness. They help an average of 6 people a day at high risk of suicide. Lifeline Foundation Charitable Trust is a registered charity (CC53914).

Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust – my mother Di who sadly passed away in December last year was a passionate volunteer for ARHT. They are another organisation that has to work hard to continually raise the funding needed to provide an essential life-saving service. ARHT flies over 1,000 missions each year and has saved thousands of people. I would like to donate the money raised to ARHT in memory of my mother.

The good news is that the Alps 2 Ocean Ultra race is itself a non-profit charity which will use the proceeds of the race to fund local community organisations, primarily youth-based.

There will be live updates posted on the Alps 2 Ocean Ultra Facebook page through the week. The first stage starts from Mt Cook on Sunday 24 February and all going well we should be running into Oamaru on Saturday 2 March.